Barbados 100 Dollar Bill

Barbados Banknotes

It wasn’t until after Barbados’ Independence in 1966 that banknotes of all denominations were in real circulation on the island.

On 3 December 1973, the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) introduced banknotes for 1, 5, 10, 20 and 100 dollars.

Did you know? The 1 dollar note was not issued again. In 1980, the 2 dollar note was introduced, instead.

On 2 May 2013, the CBB issued a new series of Barbadian banknotes, with a more modern design and color scheme.

Note: All notes issued by the CBB from 1973 to present are accepted island-wide.

According to the CBB, the basic design of Barbadian banknotes is uniform:

— The denomination in numerals and in words — A unique serial number — The words ‘Central Bank of Barbados’ — The national Coat of Arms, a broken trident, and map of Barbados — Raised numerical ‘dots’ — The signature of the Governor in office at the time of printing — The official launch date of the new series.

The front of all notes feature the portrait of a notable Barbadian who has made a significant contribution to the island’s history and development, as well as a vignette linked to the featured person on the back.

Note: Older banknotes feature a vignette of the Parliament Buildings and the Careenage.